Jim Lovell preferred life away from the spotlight: living on a secluded lake, caring for his family while his wife served as a town official and staging complex, behind-the-scenes effects for large entertainment events.

“He would never seek the limelight,” said friend Jonathan Kruk. “It was almost like he didn’t have an ego. He was the one who made it possible, smiling behind the scenes.”

Grieving family members and friends said the “Today” show audio technician was a family-oriented man who loved Hudson Valley history, good writing and adventures in the wild outdoors near his Cold Spring home. Mr. Lovell, 58 years old, had battled cancer and endured open-heart surgery, according to close friend Richard Shea.

Another friend, John Zuvic, said Mr. Lovell’s flexible schedule allowed him to do what he cared about most – spending time with his sons. He often went fishing, swimming and windsurfing with them in nearby Lake Valhalla. “His main pastime was being with his boys,” he said. He was also fascinated by military history and played guitar, Mr. Zuvic said.

Mr. Lovell had left the family’s home early Monday for Rockefeller Center, where he was preparing the Christmas tree for his televised premiere. “That was a challenge, to get the tree up and ready for the world,” Mr. Zuvic said.

In a note to the staff, Don Nash, executive producer of “Today,” called Mr. Lovell “one of the nicest guys you ever met.”

On Monday, his grieving son, Finn, described the emotional scene of learning of his father’s death. Finn had spent the night with a friend, who drove him home when his mother said to immediately return. His mom, Philipstown Town Councilwoman Nancy Montgomery, left for the Bronx and later returned to summon her sons into a room of the lakeside home.

Finn, 17 years old, said his mom was being “strong for her boys, strong for the rest of the family.”

Mr. Zuvic said he has been thinking about all the things he and Mr. Lovell had talked about doing together, like finishing a renovation project at Mr. Lovell’s home or camping with their children in the mountains nearby, that they would never get to do. “We were looking forward to a lot of things,” he said.